Please note this page has been changed several times today and as such this latest update was done on 3/5/2006 at 9:37pm Eastern time.

DirecTV lease program urgent information update:

DirecTV on 3/1/2006 started a lease program for all of their boxes.

First if you have bought a box before 3/1/06 you must activated the box on or before 3/30/06 and you must tell DirecTV that this box isn't a lease box but one you own.

Now the only difference between the old system and the new lease system is that you will never own the boxes even after your two year agreement runs out.

If you cancel before the 24 months you must pay a pro-rated fee of upto 300.00 total (per account not per box) if you have advanced boxes under your account.  If you only have basic SD boxes under your account you will only pay upto 150.00 total pro-rated over 12 months (per account not per box).  Please note that these pro-rated charges aren't per box but per account.

If you fail to return the leased hardware within 30 days after you cancel DirecTV service you must pay these per box fees below.  Please note that these fees have nothing todo with the above fees and these fees below will apply under all conditions if you fail to return the hardware.

SD box = 55.00/box.
SD DVR = 200.00/box.
HD Box = 240.00/box.
HD DVR = 470.00/box.

It doesn't make a difference whether your within or after you two year agreement if you fail to return your leased hardware you must pay the above charges per box.  If you cancel after the two year agreement is up "and" return the hardware back to DirecTV you won't incur any charges whatsoever.

You must still pay any and all upfront prices under the lease plan for all boxes.  Your mirror fee will now be called the lease fee under the new lease plan.